Where's the cheapest place to get kids backpacks that won't fall apart before the end of the school year?

Question

My son is starting Kindergarten this fall... Every backpack he likes feels cheap and like it won't last. I like these because they're nice quality and I can get a matching lunchbag... http://www.hannaandersson.com/Style.asp?from=SRCH&styleid=32505&simg=32505_S19&mwc=S19&styleRef=32505kb but I don't really want to spend that much and my son wants Spiderman or Star Wars anyway. You know anywhere to get a cheap one with a matching lunch bag that will last? Or a set SO cheap that it won't matter if it falls apart and I have to replace it?

Answer 1

Ross Or marshalls!

Answer 2

EBAY or Amazon

Office Max/Office Depot

Ross?

Answer 3

They don't have characters or any designs on them but I get my kids knapsacks at Mountain Equipment Co-op and those things last for years. My oldest is going into grade 7 carrying the same knapsack I bought him for junior kindergarten and it is still in perfect condition. I wait for sales and have paid approx. $12 to $30 for a good kid-sized sack. Oh, and my kids are brutal to their knapsacks.

Answer 4

EBAY! :)

Answer 5

We've had problems with every backpack we've gotten our kids, so unless we want to go for the $75-and-up variety, we decided to just "go with it".

Last summer, A.C.Moore had backpacks on sale for $5 each.  Sure, they were cheaply made, and didn't look like they were made to last, but we bought 2 for each kid, with the intention of using both during the year.  We hate to think of backpacks as "disposable", but if they're not going to make it through the year anyway, why spend the extra money?

With three school-aged kids, we spent $30, and only 2 of them didn't make it through the year, so we still have 4 to start off next year.

As they get older (the oldest is starting 6th grade this year), we'll get them better backpacks.

Answer 6

Wallmart.  No backpack can stand up to a full year of normal child use.

Answer 7

As a mother who has gotten a LOT of backpacks, $29 is not expensive at all.  I buy my kids Jansport backpacks and they last for years and around the same price.  Check out ebags.com.   The cheapest backpacks I have gotten were $10.00 and I needed to replace it half way through the year.  The cheap ones end up being more expensive

Answer 8

You get what you pay for.  You can find tons of cheap backpacks at Target and Walmart, but you're right, they won't last.  I've successfully convinced my kindergartener to stay away from character bags because within 6 months she doesn't even like that character anymore.  (I reminded her of how she used to like Barney, then Elmo, then the Wiggles, etc)  LL Bean has great bags and they're not as expensive as Hanna Andersson's.  They're lightweight, waterproof, and have lots of little pockets that kids like.  Let him pick out his favorite color and you can even have his initials sewn on.  You can use these bags for at least 2-3 years.  That's what I'd recommend.

Answer 9

Last year I bought the kids backpaks from Kohl's.  My son's had a strap that broke right before the end of the school year and my daughter's lasted fine all year and she's now using her's for camp.  Perhaps it has more to do with the manufacture and design of the bag, rather than the store.  I am considering ordering from LL Bean this year.

Answer 10

Wal-Mart has some cute bags for the young ones. And Gap has pretty cool stuff too! I love bag shopping.

Answer 11

Someone said Ross, I got my kids backpacks there last year, they were Jansports and they were under $10. I plan on giving them a wash and having them use them again this year. My daughter was more picky on having one with Hello Kitty which I could only find at Target, she went through 3 by the end of the year, all zipper problems.

Answer 12

I'd say Wal*mart

Answer 13

I have 3 boys and the cheapest place that I have found quality bookbags is the children's place.  I was there today and they are on sale for 15.50

Answer 14

I don't know if you live by a LL Bean (if not you can order online) but they have really great backpacks! They last a long time, and if anything happens to it you can just return it for another. They are a little more expensive, but definitely are worth it. They last for years! They have backpacks for younger children with animals (spider, shark, gecko) on them, they're really cute! They also have the matching lunch boxes with the animals too. They also have other backpacks that are cheaper but they only come in solid colors/patterns, no animals that are fun for children, but they are also durable and have matching lunchboxes. You can also get them monogramed for like $5 more so your child will never loose his backpack/lunchbox!

Backpacks:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...

Lunchbox:

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...

Answer 15

try my link there really cheap, they last a long time, and you can get it monogrammed for $6!http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/stores/...

Answer 16

try target or wallmart. their stuff is reasonably cheap.

Answer 17

you could go too big lots and get a relly good backpack with supplies for $10.thanks bye

Answer 18

Before you go buying a backpack with a logo on it... check with your school on their policy. Many schools either don't allow logos or require that you have clear plastic bags (for safety).

I also buy the clear plastic ones, even though the school doesn't require it. They last all year long and we only get new ones each year because we can LOL. You can get them at www.walmart.com for $9.88 plus $0.96 shipping (last I checked). I save the logos for things like shoes and clothes -- or even a lunch box. :o)

If you have to have the  logo set though, check Ebay or the websites for stores like Target, WalMart and KMart. The prices will be lower and you may be able to justify getting something you know won't last the whole year.